R.I.P. Carey Bell

On the 6th of May blues harp master, Carey Bell, died...

He was born November 14, 1936, in Macon, Mississippi, USA. He picked up the harmonica while still a young child, and by the age of 13 he joined his godfather Lovie Lee's Blues band. In September 1956 he moved to Chicago with Lee.In Chicago Bell met the legendary harpmaster Little Walter and became his student. Bell also learned from other harp masters, including Big Walter Horton and Sonny Boy Williamson II. As times were hard for professional blues harmonica players Bell also learned to play electric bass to enhance his chances of being a professional musician. Carey Bell released his first album, entitled "Carey Bell's Blues Harp", in 1969, and has since then released several albums. In 1990 Bell joined forces with fellow harp players Junior Wells, James Cotton and Billy Branch and recorded the fantastic "Harp Attack!" album.In addition to "Harp Attack!" and his solo records Bell also played with other artists, such as Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Earl Hooker, Big Walter Horton, Lowell Fulsom and Robert Nighthawk.On May 6, Carey Bell died of heart failure. He was 70.

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Enjoy a video footage with this regreted giant of blues featuring Louisiana Red in 1983. They're playing "She's worse".

Master Jon Gindick playing Walkin' Blues

Before getting into Delta and Chicago blues classics, check out the Cross Harp Professor, Jon Gindick playing on acoustic guitar and harp Robert Johnson's tune, Walkin' Blues. This was among the first songs I learnt on my C harmonica. Here's Master Jon:

Sonny Terry's whoopin'

Here's one of the few videos of the greatest blues harp player of all time, Sonny Terry, and his buddy Brownie McGee. Together they were magic. In this footage we can dig how the blind hero is whoopin'. It's early 60s and America was blinder than Sonny: bluesmen were filmed, recorded and appreciated by... Germans at the American Folk and Blues Festival right across the Atlantic. The name of the song is Hootin' the Blues. Enjoy.